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Ballater is a Town in northeast Scotland, 42
miles west of Aberdeen, 17 miles east of Braemar.
Ballater is popular for its Royal Train
Station, Golf, Touring Park, Cafes, Balmoral
Castle 8 miles west, Lecht Ski Centre on the
Lecht
Mountain Road 18 miles north, Glenshee
Ski Centre on the A93 Road, Highest Road in
Scotland 26 miles southwest, and a number of
Walks in the
area.
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Click On Map for area Attractions
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
The image top is of Ballater Train
Station, opened in 1866, closed in 1966,
now a Museum and Information Centre.
The Old Station has an area reffered to as
Queen Victoria's waiting room, with a Replica
Royal Carriage. Queen Victoria bought Balmoral
Estate in 1852, with Balmoral Castle being
built by 1856.
This led to Ballater Train Station being
used by Royals traveling up to Balmoral Castle.
Royals from around the World would also use
Ballater Train Station when visiting Balmoral,
also, most Prime Ministers have visited in
summer, leading to an increase in Tourism,
people hoping to see famous people shopping in
Ballater.
Ballater Bike Station
is next to the Train Station, now with Electric
Bikes for Hire.
Ballater Centre is about 200 yards southeast
of the Train Station, with Glenmuick Church at
Church Green, built in 1874 to replace a
smaller Church from the 1780s.
Ballater Fountain is in front of Glenmuick
Church, erected in 1884 in honour of Lieutenant
Colonel Farquharson. The Farquharson's were
credited with building Ballater from the
1790s.
The Royal Bridge at Ballater is 300 yards
southeast of the Village centre, crossing the
River Dee. The first Stone Bridge here was bult
in 1783, swept away by a Flood in 1789. The
second Bridge was built by Thomas Telford in
1809, swept away by a Flood in 1829. The Bridge
seen today was built in 1885, opened by Queen
Victoria, surviving a great Flood in December
2015, caused by Storm Frank.
Ballater Golf
Club is on the south side of the Town,
founded in 1892.
Ballater Caravan
Park is next to the Golf Club, with Pitches
for Tourers and Tents.
Crathie Kirk is
8 miles west of Ballater, at the entrance to
Balmoral Castle. This is the Church used by
Royals when they are at Balmoral, free to visit
with donations encouraged. Queen Victoria laid
the foundation stone for this Church in
1893.
Balmoral Castle can be visited from
the 1st April to late July or early August. The
Royals holiday at Balmoral for a few weeks in
August.
Ballater History
1390 - the first Balmoral Castle was built
for Sir William Drummond, 8 miles west of where
Ballater is today.
1539 - Clan Farquharson gained control of
Invercauld
Estate and Castle 15 miles west of
Ballater.
1662 - Clan Farquharson gained control of
Blamoral Castle.
1746 - the Jacobite Army was defeated at
Culloden by Inverness, with Balmoral
Castle being taken from the Farquharson's at
that time, as they supported the
Jacobite's.
1748 - work began on Fort George by
Inverness to house Troops to prevent more
Risings.
1749 - a Miltary Road was built leading
north to Fort George, passing through Balmoral
Estate. These Roads also allowed the first
Tourist to explore the Highlands.
1790 - Ballater was built by Francis
Farquharson and his decendants, evolving into a
Spa Resort for visitors to the Pananich Mineral
Well.
1842 - Queen Victoria visited the Highlands
of Scotland for the first time. This was a time
travel from London was by Ship, then Horse and
Carriage, or Horse over rough roads. The Queen
fell in love with the Highlands, intending to
have a place of her own for holidays.
Queen Victoria was almost killed on one of
her trips to the Highlands, after her Carraige
overturned.
1848 - Queen Victoria gained control of
Balmoral Estate, 8 miles west of Ballater.
1856 - Balmoral Castle was built for Queen
Victoria, replacing an older Castle on the
Estate.
1867 - the Railway reached
Aberdeen, connecting to Edinburgh and London,
leaving just 50 miles by Horse and Carriage to
Balmoral.
1886 - Ballater Railway Station opened with
Royals using the Station, leaving just 8 miles
by Horse and Carriage to Balmoral.
1900 - King Edward VII
was the first Royal to buy a Car, produced by
Daimler
Company, founded in London 1896.
1928 - the first Royal Aircraft
entrered service, with the Royals later flying
up to Aberdeen, then traveling by Car to
Balmoral.
1966 - Ballater Train Station was closed, at
a time most people had began traveling by Car
or Bus, and Goods were being transported by
Diesel Trucks.
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